Renovation of b’ball court starts

The work on the renovation of the basketball court at Hansraj Stadium began today, marking the start of the Rs 98-lakh project to overhaul the facility.

Alongside the basketball court upgrade, the project includes the construction of a new bathroom and changing room for players, aiming to address the long-standing concerns about the inadequate facilities for the players. The tender process for the renovation was completed recently, and work has now been initiated.

The project also extends to the indoor wrestling stadium, which is set to undergo renovation. Sewerage infrastructure will also be overhauled.

As per information, after years, the hostel of Government Senior Secondary State School of Sports — Punjab’s oldest and most prestigious sports institute — is finally getting a long-overdue facelift. It’s renovation will also start from next week.

The state of the hostel paints a grim picture. The Tribune had earlier reported that the unbearable stench and unsanitary living conditions continued to mar the hostel. Wandering street dogs, broken infrastructure, and a lack of maintenance have made the condition worse. Built in 1961 alongside the school itself — with its foundation stone laid by Punjab’s first Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon — the hostel was once seen as a cradle for future sports stars.

In 2015, a new hostel building was constructed to replace the ageing structure. However, instead of offering relief, the new facility quickly fell into disrepair. Huge cobwebs and dysfunctional washrooms have made life difficult for students who arrive with dreams of sporting glory.

But, with the renovation, things are expected to be improved soon.

Jalandhar